Signal for engines



J. O. RIGKBTSON.

SIGNAL FOR ENGINES.

(No Model.)

Patented Dec. 6, 1887.

minus mote-Lithographer, Wahmgum n70 UNITED 7 STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. RICKETSON, OF MILWAUKEE, XVISCONSIN.

SIGNALFOR ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,322, dated December6, 1887.

Application filed April 5, 1887. Serial No. 233,816. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES O.'RIoKE'rsoN, of Milwaukee,in the cou nty ofMilwaukee, and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Signals for Engines; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to devices for indicating at any point distant froman engine or its shaft the direction in which the latter is revolving,and will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of part of a marine engine with oneform of my present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 shows a pneumaticpush-button such as I use in the form shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows anelec tric push-button which may be used with electrical instead ofpneumatic connection with the distant signal.

My invention is in part an improvement on the devices set forth in mypatent, N 0. 356,792, granted me February 1, 1887; and this improvementconsists in a simpler arrangement and fewer number of parts and a moredirect connection with the actuating push -button, whereby eitherelectric or pneumatic signals may be actuated by the movement of thecocentric-rods of the engine.

'As in my patent just named, I have illustrated my device in connectionwith a marine engine for use on a steamboat; but it is capable of use inconnection with any reversible engme.

A A represent the eccentric-rods of a marine engine, and B is theengineshaft.

G O designate brackets projecting from the frame of the engine towardthe eccentric-rods, and carrying push-buttons D D, those shown in Fig. 1being supposed to be pneumatic push -buttons, shown in sectional detailin Fig. 2, where the push-rod d(or d) has a c011- cave plate, d formedintegral therewith, (or secured thereto) which bears directly against arubber bulb, 6, connected in turn to the pneumatic tube E, (or E.)

F F are the bells or other signals or annunciators, a pneumatic bell orannunciator, of course, being used with pneumatic tubes.

Fig. 3 shows an electric push-button of a form too common to need anydescription, and which may be used in place of the pneumatic push-buttonjust described, in which event wires e e would of course connect with abattery (not shown) and with the bells or other signals F F, (whichwould be then any ordinary electric signals instead of pneumatic,) inthe usual manner. In some instances it might be better to have theeccentric-rods A A provided with swelled or rounded bosses orprojections a and a, as shown in dotted lines, to insure closer contactwith the push-rods of the push-buttons, and these bosses may be eithercast with the rods A A or secured to them, as more convenient in anygiven case; and, if de sired, springs may be interposed back of thepush-buttons on the brackets G O to guard against injury or jarring ofthe device.

The operation of my device is substantially the same as in mybefore-named patent, except that the push-v rod of the push -button isoperated upon directly by the eccentrierod, instead of through theinterposition of a series of levers, as heretofore, making a simpler andcheaper device than that shown in said patent and one equally effective.

In the illustration given the eccentricrod A is supposed to be'makingthe connection, as shown in full lines, and consequently the shaft B isall the time revolving in one direction. In this movement of the shaftthe eccentricrod A is thrown so far to the left as to cause it to pressagainst the adjacent push-button D, and thereby to directly actuate thesignal F. In dotted lines the positions of the eccentric-rods are shownwhen the shaft Bis revolved in the opposite direction, when theeccentric'rods are thrown over to the right far enough to cause theeccentric-rod A to press against the push-button D, and thereby toinstantly actuate the signal F.

As before, I have only shown bells; but of course I may use any form ofsignal or aununciator in place thereof or in addition thereto. I may useonly one such pushbutton and signal on one side of the engine, or two,as shown, so that the pilot or captain of a vessel, for instance, mayknow always in which direction the shaft is revolving, either by theringing or non-ringing of the bell, in one instance, or by noticingwhich bell is ringing or which signal operating if push-buttons areapplied adjacent to each of the eccentric-rods, as shown.

For convenience, I propose to locate the push-buttons on bracketsextending from the engine-frame, as stated; but it will be understoodthat the said push-buttons may be upon any suitable supportsuch as abeam or independent frame-provided they are adjacent to theeccentric-rods of the engine, as hereinbe fore described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a reversible engine with a distant signal and apush-button connected to said signal and located upon the engine-franieor other suitable support adjacent to one of the eccentricrods of theengine, whereby the said rod in its movement will or other suitablesupport adjacent to one of 25 the eccentric-rods, and a pneumatic tubeconnecting the said push-button with the said signal, whereby theeccentric rod in its movement will make direct contact with thepushbutton, and thereby actuate the signal.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingIhave hereunto set my hand, atMilwaukee, in the county of'Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, in thepresence of two witnesses.

' JAMES C. RI-GKETSON.

Witnesses:

H. G. UNDERwooD, N. E. OLIPHANT.

